Combating climate change – What, where and how to implement adaptive measures in the agriculture sector of Öland, Sweden, keeping in view the constraints of carrying capacities and risk of maladaptation

Abstract

There exists a two-way detrimental relationship between climate change and several agricultural practices. Emissions from the agriculture sector (e.g. GHG emissions, and release of pesticides, herbicides, and nutrients) is causing global warming as well as damaging the environment, and in return climate change is stressing agriculture globally. The bewildering relationship between adaptative measures and risk of maladaptive outcomes demands a better understanding concerning “What, where and how to implement” adaptive measures. This article is one step towards a deeper understanding of “what”, “where” and “how” related questions on climate change adaptation in connection to constraints of carrying capacities and risks of maladaptation. A GIS based framework was employed for generating risk maps for identification of nutrient surplus and discharge hotspots “i.e. Where to implement?”. Moreover, extensive in-depth interviews and a questionnaire survey were conducted to explore perceptions on carrying capacities, resources management, climate change adaptation measures and risk of maladaptive results, i.e. “What and how to implement?”. Furthermore, the data collected from the questionnaire survey and interviews was employed to ameliorate the analytical model, previously developed, based on the initial work of Juhola et al. (2016) and Neset et al. (2019a), which could help guide planners, advisors, and farmers for better understanding of adaptation and maladaptive risks. The study is expected to assist in developing robust, sustainable and climate smart adaptive interventions in response to negative climate change impacts.